Gerwyn Price insists tournament favourite Michael van Gerwen no longer holds any fear for him.
The former Neath and Glasgow Warriors rugby player has pushed himself forward as one of the Alexandra Palace favourites and gets his tournament under way on Thursday night against Willie O’Connor.
“I’m not scared of [Van Gerwen] any more,” said Price.
“A couple of years ago, I would have been worried, but I wouldn’t be fazed at all if I was to play him. I believe I’m a future world champion.”
The 34-year-old Welshman has been no stranger to run-ins with darts authorities over his antics at the oche which has often seen him painted as a pantomime villain.
“At the beginning, I didn’t mind the boos, but it went too far,” he added.
“But to have boos week in, week out is a little bit below the belt. It doesn’t bother me what the crowd thinks.”
